[undecipherable] Dear Sir, I just informed you from [undecipherable] on the 9^th that on that day [he] arrived. The [undecipherable] Mr. Adams was not gone and had the [undecipherable] of meeting him at Amsterdam — This was lucky for me both because to meet so amiable and intelligent [a] man at all is delectable, & that the conversation I have [had] with him [is] from the only clue or source of [undecipherable] any of the foreign affairs connected with the U. S. that I am to enjoy, drawn from independent of [undecipherable] my apprenticeship & experience — for the U. S. have never had a single book — paper, register or archive kept at this court that I can hear of. and each [undecipherable] is to take up business as may have been left unfinished — unless he has a copy of a memorial or [undecipherable] — written at the right or wrong end according to the [undecipherable] which doubtful intelligence on the [spot] may [undecipherable]. From all I can collect however the government [here] is as well disposed as they [seem] to be [toward] [undecipherable] [the] feeling of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [decide] quietly and then the idea [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] perhaps more [precious] & then, the giving of a [undecipherable] new direction to the commercial [affairs] of a country [undecipherable] their immense [undecipherable] they think of Britain [must] principally [look] for [undecipherable] after the war [undecipherable] amount to a set of beings incessantly corrupt from a [undecipherable] power open [undecipherable] only found[ation] [undecipherable]. They can probably expect [their] ideas & [discord]. They certainly govern Europe at present — a [planning] immense schemes of grandeur — one of this means at present is for some time in [use] is the getting possession of the Diplomatic corps of [Europe]. Sweden [perhaps] (at this plan) the U. S. & the Batavian Republic have all felt this determination — from this republic they have [expelled] a minister who belong[ed] to the more [worthy] & moderate men [undecipherable] here. because they [are] [undecipherable] shown they [approved] — & I shall not be [undecipherable] of course [negotiating] [must] [deliver] with them — [undecipherable] for [a] renewal of our treaty. Did I not [hear] [undecipherable] the manner in which my [predecessor] [undecipherable] our [undecipherable] in the National [assembly] I should [believe] they meant to have their American minister at [The Hague] [undecipherable] not [believe] — for Mr. [Adams] has [undecipherable] his letter of [recall] — I hear that the delay of two days in [undecipherable] did arise from some [hope] that they have to make [undecipherable] — [the] is but [undecipherable] — The French still pursue their piratical [undecipherable] of our trade and probably will continue to do so until a spirit of Union shall display itself against them in America — This, [undecipherable] with the growing disposition in [France] for Peace, a necessity of [representing] them [their] reason [to] alter [their] West India colonies are [undecipherable] [there] an opportunity for reflection that [would] be [undecipherable] [embraced] by [parties] of the Directory — and by the more [worthy] men of the new [delegations] many of whom as [Marbois] [undecipherable] theless — there are doubtless not friends to America. but [wise] [undecipherable] enough to see the real policy of a good understanding [with] the U. S. — But [depend] upon it — their [spirit] is not[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Batavian] (better [yet] [Holland]) and [undecipherable] continue [undecipherable] — my own speculation [undecipherable] they will not [undecipherable] from N.Y.B. [undecipherable] they shall have [had] an invasion — from France — in this country — then they have a large collection of transports & about 25,000 men ready — with 13 sail of the line besides 15 from 60 to 20 [guns] [undecipherable] to trade. They [must] have [that] England is now ripe [undecipherable] for a revolution — that an invasion of [undecipherable] partially unsuccessful and probably brings things to a crisis — France too in peace with the continent may [concentrate] their immense forces — those [ardent] spirits against Eng[land] with a [undecipherable] advantage of ground having Batavia & Belgium & all France in her cooperation than she ever had — Could she set in motion the revolution [already] [undecipherable] in Eng[land] and then leaving [her] to [her] fate turn all [her] attention to [her] marine & manufacturers she would have accomplished many things. Of the fate of Venice you have heard no doubt [undecipherable] turned out of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with [a secretary] [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] and to [undecipherable] over the [undecipherable] of kingdoms — The [undecipherable] of [our] Batavian Republic [undecipherable] to be abandoned by France — it is necessary to [break] [a] [called] "a family" influence of the [Emperor] from the British side of [his] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] through all Italy [undecipherable] into probably [undecipherable] to [a] range in the [Indian] Dominions — This [is] and [undecipherable] dear friend — but I do not hold the [undecipherable]. I had to [converse] [undecipherable] with you [undecipherable] yet I have no [undecipherable] correspondence. — [undecipherable] on terms — I find that the idea that the P & V.P. are cordially united gives alarm to the [undecipherable] of our country & stability to our [prospects] in the eyes of European politicians. I am exceedingly anxious to hear of the proceedings of [Congress] — the [Speech] [undecipherable] the [measures] [undecipherable] military [pursuits] has [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] and a list your library [undecipherable] if I will [undecipherable] that is not there [undecipherable] had what I [get] — I am [hammering] away upon [these] — with [an] intent to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] me with respectful kindness — and [hoping] [for] young friend Mr. John Wh[undecipherable]. — [I] writing to Col. [Pickering] I have not thought myself at liberty to indulge [much] in Speculation — [as] [undecipherable] facts of [another]. I could not be master of them — I [undecipherable] [I] observe in his [Offi]cial letters, [receives] himself — [it] is [undecipherable] to simply [undecipherable] [confirmed] to what has been done — give me your opinion on this will you. God bless [undecipherable] my dear friend & believe me always affectionately [signature]